Halloween and the Jack-O-Lantern

Here’s a little Halloween treat this week that I think you will enjoy, and maybe learn something along the way.  Enjoy! The Story of Halloween Most people think of Halloween as a night of dress up in ghostly or funny costumes, to have parties, or to go “trick-or-treating” and never consider why or how muchContinue reading “Halloween and the Jack-O-Lantern”

Woodcarving Suppliers

Gladly we have had many new subscribers join our group over the past several weeks and to you I want to say thank you.  I am very grateful you have decided to join our Wood Chip Chatter family and hope you will find my blog informative and interesting. About two months ago I posted aContinue reading “Woodcarving Suppliers”

Wood Properties of Tupelo

Wood Properties of Tupelo TUPELO, WATER Nyssa aquatica (Nyssa – a water nymph; aquatica – of the water) This species is known by many different names, some of the most prominent being BAY POPLAR, GUM, GRAY GUM, HAZEL PINE, OLIVETREE, PAW PAW GUM, SOUR GUM, SWAMP TUPELO, TUPELO, TUPELO GUM, WHITE GUM and YELLOW GUM.Continue reading “Wood Properties of Tupelo”

Give Credit Where Credit Is Due

“Give Credit Where Credit Is Due” It happens over and over again where a carver makes a carving from a pattern he/she got from someone else, posts it on social media and basically calls it his own.  It’s happened to me loads of times.  While I’m always flattered that someone likes my work enough toContinue reading “Give Credit Where Credit Is Due”

Stropping Your Knife

STROPPING YOUR KNIFE by Del Stubbs, Pinewood Forge During this post we continue that never ending discussion on stropping.  Today, however, we learn some significant information from Del Stubbs on how to choose a strop and compound, and the correct way to strop your knife.  In this section, Del also briefly introduces us to honesContinue reading “Stropping Your Knife”

Wood Properties of American Mahogany

Wood Properties of American Mahogany Although American Mahogany is considered a hardwood, it carved relatively easy and has an appealing grain and finishes beautifully.  Here are the wood properties of American Mahogany: READERS’ COMMENTS This is going to be a very short blog post today since I have received no readers’ comments or questions thisContinue reading “Wood Properties of American Mahogany”

Strops & Stropping

Strops & Stopping by Del Stubbs, Pinewood Forge Strops & Stropping A Strop for carving tools needs a very fine surface for accepting compound – yet is thin enough to not cause gross rounding of the micro bevel.  I go through lots of hides at my leather wholesaler before I choose the ones that haveContinue reading “Strops & Stropping”

Drying A Wood Product

Drying A Wood Product I received a message from Tim Sisko this week with a question and comment along with some photos of the Native American masks he carved, which has opened up an intriguing topic of discussion that I’m sure you will all want to read about.  The message reads: “Bob , I enjoyedContinue reading “Drying A Wood Product”

Wood Burning A Black Background

The following is a short tutorial for all you wood burners out there, on how to burn a black background.  There’s much more to it than just rubbing your burning pen back and forth all over (as I would have thought).  Read on and learn some tips on proper wood burning technique.   Wood Burning AContinue reading “Wood Burning A Black Background”

Extreme Pumpkin Carving

“Extreme Pumpkin Carving” by Vic hood & Jack A. Williams A Book Review It’s already just 2 months until Halloween and you’re all probably thinking about carving your Halloween pumpkins.  Well “Extreme Pumpkin Carving” is just the book to help you turn out one of the most outrageous big orange gourds in the neighborhood. “ExtremeContinue reading “Extreme Pumpkin Carving”